Apparatus for handling ship&#39;s elevator car



May 27, 1958 J, LAMB 2,836,308

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHIPS ELEVATOR CAR Filed July 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l ms ATTORNEY May Z7, 1958 J, LAMB 2,836,308

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING sHIPs ELEVATOR CAR Filed July 22, 1954I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvsuoxz'. JOHN nAMB HIS ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR HANDLING sHIPs ELEVATOR CAR Filed July 22,' 1954 J. LAMB May 27, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE NTOR:

JOHN LAMB BYI Flc-3.4

H15 ATTOQNEY 2,836,38 Patented May 27, 1958 APPARATUS FR HANDLING SHIPS ELEVATOR CAR Ficha Lamis, Great St. Helens, London, England, assigner to Shell Development Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application .lnly 22, 1954, Serial No. 445,077

Ciaims priority, application Great Britain July 27, 1953 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-15) This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for handling a ships elevator car or overside hoist, hereinafter referred to as a can having on one side thereof at least three running wheels which, when the car is in operation, contact the ships side at non-aligned points, i, e., at the apices of a polygon. A car of this type is described in my copending Patent Application Serial No. 445,079 filed concurrently herewith.

A method of launching such a car, according to the present invention, comprises the operations of swinging a platform about a horizontal axis located near the side of the ship from a raised position wherein the platform is substantially in line with the ships side to a lower position in which one end thereof is close to or on the deck, running the car while in a position substantially on its side, with the side wheels down, onto the platform in an outboard direction in such a manner that the shipsside-contacting-Wheels of the car contact the platform and that the center of gravity of the car is outboard of the said axis, securing the car to the platform to prevent further outboard movement thereof, swinging the platform back into the raised position in which it is substantially in line with the ships side, whereby the car is turned to its upright position, connecting suspension cables to the car, and releasing the securing device.

Locking means, such as latches, are preferably provided to lock the platform in each position referred to above.

When running the car on the ships deck and onto the platform, it preferably runs on two of the wheels which, in operation, engage the ships side (advantageously on the two wheels that are lowermost in the upright position of the car) and also on a third, castered wheel, which is retractable to allow the securing device to engage the platform and also to avoid engagement of this castered wheel with the ships side during the subsequent operation of the elevator car.

The present invention also includes a car having a securing device to engage the platform and, preferably, a retractable caster wheel for movement on deck.

The present invention further includes a ship having at n a launching station thereof a pivotally mounted platform which may be swung to a raised position in which it is substantially in line with the side of the ship or a lowered position in which one end thereof is near to the ships deck.

It will be appreciated that the deck referred to above may be any one of several decks on a ship. On a tanker vessel it is preferably the upper bridge deck. The deck at which the launching apparatus is situated will not, in most cases, be itself used by persons entering or leaving the car, and entry to the car will, therefore, usually be at another deck, e. g., the next lower deck.

The invention is illustrated in the attached drawings forming a part of this specification and showing a pre ferred apparatus, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the elevator car running on a ships deck and the platform in the normal, raised position in which it is in line with the ships side, parts of the ship being shown in cross-section;

Figure la is a sectionai View taken on the line 1A-1A of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is an elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the platform swung down with one end thereof on the deck and having the car thereon, parts of the uprights, platform and car body being broken away;

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure l showing the platform swinging into the raised position, the upright 13a being omitted; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ship showing the platform in its normal raised position, and the car just below it in its operative, upright position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 4 shows a part of a ship that includes two decks A and B; the launching apparatus is situated on the former and the latter is used for entry to and exit from the elevator car.

Referring now to Figure l, a car having a body 1 is shown on the ships deck A which it contacts with a pair of lower, coaxial running wheels 9 and a caster wheel 10. ri`he two lower running wheels 9, in contact with the deck, and two additional upper, coaxial running wheels 9a, shown out of contact with the deck, are the wheels which, during the subsequent operation of the car when in the launched position, engage and roll along the side of the ship. In the position shown in Figure l, the car may be moved over the deck relatively easily by hand to and from its normal stowage position on the deck and a launching station at the side of the deck. One launching station only is shown in the drawings but two or more launching stations may be provided, there being preferably at least one launching station at each side of the deck.

Since the present invention is not restricted to the use of a car such as that described in the above-mentioned copending patent application, a complete description of the car is believed to be unnecessary. It may be stated that in the preferred embodiment, the wheels 9 and 9a are mounted on axles carried by a chassis 3 that is connected to the car body by suitable devices to be movable laterally in relation to the car body when in the launched, upright position thereof (vertically with respect to the car in the position shown in Figure l) so that the car body may be held at a varying horizontal distance from the ships side as the car moves up and down. This chassis also includes at each side a telescoping structure comprising a tubular part 2 (see Figure 4) and a slide 3 that extends outwards, the two slides being cross-connected by a beam 4 to which a suspension cable 5 is detachably connected. The purpose of making the slides 3 and beam 4 movable is to have as high a point of suspension above the center of gravity of the car as possible when in the operative, launched position, and also to provide a car of the minimum possible dimensions for stowing when out of service. The caster wheel lil is mounted at the center of the beam 4 by a screw-threaded tting having a handwheel 6 by which the position of the caster wheel can be adjusted vertically in relation to the parts in the position shown in Figure l. It is evident that the invention is adapted to other cars, e. g., wherein the chassis is not laterally movable with respect to the car body or the cross beam is not telescopically mounted, and that any number of caster wheels may be employed. The beam 4 may have auxiliary wheels 7 to prevent rubbing of the beam along the hull of the ship. The

telescoping parts 2 and 3 are contracted when the car is` maneuvered about the deck and during the swinging of the platform, as shown in Figures 1-3; they are extended embodied as a pair of hooked arms 29 (Figures 1 yand 2) l thatV are'advantageously pivot'allyiattached to the -car body at 22 and have motions limited by guide straps 23:.and 23.

A launching platform 111is provided at each-launching station.V -In Figures 1V andr4 this platform is Vshown in line with thes'ide orrhull ofthe ship. The hull itself does not appear kon-the drawings but is' below the ships superstructure'29, which ,isset-back inboard from the hull line. the c ar extend ybetween decks A and B in the plane of the ships side, and'downwardsin ,spaced relation to the superstructure 29.* The -platformlnturns about the axis of. a pivotlzwhich is iiked horizontally to the ships structure', e. g., to a frame thatvincludes uprights *13, and 13a. i The pivot Y12 Ais Vabove therbottom of the platform to permit thecenterof Vgravity of the car to be outboard( with respect to the pivot. A retaining bar-14 Visixed Wide channels Sil forming tracksfor the wheels of transverselyrorn the .platforrnjlas-shownY more clearly.

in Figures 2 and 4arid include slanY intermediate cranked portion 14a that is offsetoutwardly with respect to the yends of the bar, asV showninFiguie 1A, for more facile engagement by the hooked ends of the arms 20, asV deY scribed below. Theplatforrri llrhas'ooring inthe forro. of two longitudinaltrackrlements, embodiedpas plates 15 which Vare situated at the sidesof the platformyfor supporting the wheels 9 and '9a of the carl and opstand-v ing guide vwalls 16 at the outery margins toprevent lateral displacement of the Acar. Thegp'latform has a Vcentral open or'cut-away part 21 between the trackplates 15 (Figure 4). The intermediate parts ofthe guidewalls YI6 have guards in theforrn of plates 16o (Figures l, and

4) that extend inwardly over and in spaced relation to the track plates 15 andare located for engagementby vthe wheel treads and thereby prevent movementY of thecar from theV platform` in an outboard `direction (upward as viewed inl Figure 2), Vthe spacing being sufficientA to pre- Yvent passage of vthecarwheels through Athe interi/'altbe- The guards tween fthe lt'rack plates 15 and guards 1621. lodare ourvedV away from Vthe Vtraek plates 15 at the lower ends 'to facilitate entry of the wheels Vv'vhen raising the car while running on thechannels for Vsecuring',the car after use.

yAscari be seen in v,Figure .2, vthe frame '13,'13a is pro- Y vided with a latch or locking means 17fwhereby the V'platform 1,1 may belockedin the raised position shown in Figure 1 and a seond latch or locking means. 18Y is Y mounted ontheplatfo'rni `whereby it may be locked -to the `deck A in the lowered position shown inV Figur/e 2; in'this position it has been `swung down from thel'nosi-v tion shownV inlFigure l luntil one end thereof is on the,

deck.

The

Aon itsrside, with the slides 3y retracted withinthe tubular parts 2,; to bring thefbearn 4 'close tothe wheels` 9a; as

shown inrFigureV .1. AThe platform, which is normally in the raised lposition of Figure 1,' is released by operating the latch 17 and swung tofthe lowered positionof `Figure 2 and is there locked by the locking means 1'8. `The `lift Whenfthe cas'ter'wheel 10 has come against the in*- i board edge of the platform k11, the'rupper wheels 9a areV already-overthe track plates 15;.theecasteris'then're tracted -by means of thehand; wheel 6 so lthatjthel uppervpair of ywheelsfilfz eontact the tracks 15. The wheels `9&2 are now able to pass underV the guards 16a.

'operation or the apparatus far launching rhs, 1inr car is as follows: The car is initially stowed on the deck vice, projectpdownjvards into the cut-awaypartZl of the platform 11 (see Fig. 4) and, during the iinal outboard i movement of the car, engage the cranked portion'of the Y retaining bar"14. In this position, the wheels 9a are underV the guards 16a and the, center of gravity of the car is outboard of the axis of the pivots 12.

The latch 18jis now releasedand the weight ofthe y car tends to swing the platform; 11 from the lowered position of Figure 2 back into theraised position shown in Figure l; Figure 3 jshows an intermediate position of kthe platform duringV this movement. Y' The swinging bar 14 and arms 2i). y In thisi'position,VV suspension cables which pass Yoverthe-pulleysY27 andvZS are attached Y securing the `center 'cable 5 to the beain 4 and 'passingV the side cables and'r33 over the pulleys 19 that are mounted atthe sides of the car, as described inthe said copending application Serial No. 445,079. The car is then raised slightly *by means of its suspension cables and the hooked arms 420V disengagedfrom theretaining bar 14 by hand, spring orcounterweight action. When'ten- Y wheels at one'sidethereof for Vengagement.with said Y' wheel-engaging'surfa'ce when the car is in operative, vup- Y sion is applied to the Ysuspensioncable 5 the beam and slidesV fmove upwards with respect to the chassis, to the ,position shown Vvin Figure i The car is then' ready Yfor v operative'movement up and down the side ofthe ship pon tracks 30 and lthfelhull.

The same apparatus is'used to stow the car after use,

the operations being reversed., l claim as my invention; y

wheel-engaging surface below said deck facing outboard, said system including 1an elevator car having running right position,.the improvement of apparatus for launching said car from a position -on its side with said running wheels in lsupporting engagementv with said deck, comprising: an open ended platform including track elements relatively valigned for supportings'aid running wheels, said platfoi'm:being,pivotallyl'secured to the shipat said side Y above andr'adj'a'c nt said deck, fsaid platform thereby pivoting 'from a 'loweredposition on deck toa raised, generally vertical position Yin 'substantial alignment withrsaid wheelengaging surface, a yvertical Vfratrie having uprights fiXedly attaehed to the side'fof v the ship andhavinga horizontal crossbarwhi'ch surrounds said platformv when the carfis in operative upright position, Ycables depending from the crossbar of said frame and attached to Vthe car jfor Vcontrolling the position thereof, Ymeans for releasably'securing the car to the platform and supporting thej'car thereon and means Vto permit the car to run on from The car is r'then pushed fully'tothe positionfshownin said platform` onto said vertical wheel engaging Vsurface when Ythe platform is in Vsaid raisedposition.

A2. In V'combination with 4the apparatusV according" 'to gclaim l, a guide Aelement projecting outward from said Vplatform and positioned for engagementwith a .partof said carto prevent lateral displacement ,thereof OurtheV platform. Y

37. In `cou'ibination with spaced` relationabove said track elements at .an interval to pass a part'of the elevator car Ysuch as the said running wheelsV thereof with a small clearance, saidl guardele- Y 4. ln combination .with Vthe apparatus `according to fully into position in line with the side of the ship, the latch 17 automatically comes intooperation to hold the platform in this position Y Y andthe vweight ofthe car is then carried on the retaining Vthe lapparatus according toV claim 2, guard elements mounted on said .platform Vin Y claim 1, spaced, mutually facing angle elements projecting outward from said track elements for engaging the said running wheels of said cfr to prevent lateral displacement thereof on the platform, and a guard flange on each said angle elements positioned in spaced relation above said track elements at an interval to pass said running wheels with a small clearance, said guard anges being thereby operative to engage the outboard portions of said wheels to prevent outward movement of the car when the platform is in the said raised position.

5. In a ships overside elevator system on a ship having a deck and a side the combination comprising a generally vertical wheel-engaging surface below said deck facing outboard, an open ended launching platform including track elements pivotally secured to the ship at said side above and adjacent said deck for pivoted movement between a lowered position on deck and a raised, generally vertical position in substantial alignment with said wheel-engaging surface, and a suspension cable positioned outboard with respect to the ships side, a car body; means on the car detachably receiving said suspension cable; a caster wheel on the car adjacent said cable-receiving means, said caster wheel being retractably mounted to one side of the car; a plurality of running Wheels spaced remotely from said cable-receiving means and at least one additional running wheel intermediate said pair of running wheels and said caster wheel, all said running wheels being mounted on the said side of the car for running engagement with said wheel-engaging surface during operation of the car and for engagement with said track elements of the platform during a launching operation, whereby said caster wheel can be retracted to place only said running wheels in engagement with said wheel-engaging surface and can be extended to raise said intermediate running wheel clear of the ships deck when the car is on its side on said deck; a vertical frame having uprights fixedly attached to the side of the ship and having a horizontal crossbar which surrounds said platform when the car is in operative upright position, a centrally located suspension cable depending from the crossbar of said frame and attached to the car for controlling the vertical position thereof, and cables for controlling the horizontal position of the car attached to the ends of said crossbar and to the sides of said car;

and means on said car for releasably engaging said platform and supporting the car thereon.

6. A ship side elevator system on a ship having a side and a deck, said side providing a generally vertical wheelengaging surface below said `deck facing outboard, comprising: an open ended platform including track elements at the sides thereof and pivotally secured to the ship at said side above and adjacent said deck, said platform thereby pivoting from a lowered position on deck to a generally vertical position substantially in alignment with said wheel-engaging surface; a suspension cable secured to said ship and depending along the ship side; an elevator car including a car body and having means for releasably receiving said suspension cable; a plurality of at least three running wheels mounted at one side of said car for running engagement with said wheel-engaging surface, said track elements on the platform being aligned to receive at least some of said running wheels; a fixed vertical frame having a horizontal crossbar surrounding said platform when the same is in vertical upended position, cables depending from the ends of said crossbar to the sides of said car for controlling the horizontal position of the car; and means for releasably securing said car to said platform and supporting the car thereon while the car and platform are tilted in unison.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 156,541 Conrad et al Nov. 3, 1874 624,948 Kurkumeli May 16, 1899 634,329 Freeman Oct. 3, 1899 1,131,411 Nelson Mar. 9, 1915 1,165,284 Prindle Dec. 2l, 1915 1,907,499 Champness May 9, 1933 1,940,523 Barclay Dec. 19, 1933 2,045,524 Fehrmann lune 23, 1936 2,526,071 Estey Oct. 17, 1950 2,639,829 Dempster et al. May 26, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 248,015 Germany June 13, 1912 289,372 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1928 268,549 Italy Oct. 21, 1929 507,028 Belgium Nov. 30, 1951 

